mclachlan



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J. C. MQLAOHLAN.

DI-TGHING MACHINE.

No; tented'Man' 27, 1 888;:

WITNESSES.

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DITGHING MACHINE.

Patented'Mar;27,1888

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(No Model) J. C. MOLACHLAN. DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 380,128. Patented-"Mar. 27, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. MOLACHLAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLInoIs, ASSIGNOR TO ARNOLD- HOENIGSBERGER, on SAME PLACE.

DITCHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,128, dated March 27, 1888.

Application filed March 14. 1887. Serial No. 230,891. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN (J. MCLACHLAN,

of Ghlcago, county of (look, and Stateof Illinow, have invented certain new and useful Im- 5 provements in a Ditching-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ng drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of machines employed in excavating ditches; and the same consists of certain novel features in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter set 'forth in detail, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a machine 'embodylng my improved features; Fig. 2, a detached view of the excavating roller or drum.- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of that part of the machine carrying the larger end of the excavating-drum; Fig. 4, an elevation of the opposite side; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section in the plane 5, Fig. 3; Figs. 6and 7, detached details, and Fig. 8 a rear elevation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the difl'erenttimbersforming the supportingframework, A the main propelling truck-wheels, and A the front truck or guide wheels located under the engine-platform A The rear wheels, A, steady and prevent too much vibration of the excavating-drum, and at the same time assist in supporting the derrick mechanism.

The excavating-drum or hollow roller B is in thev form of a conic frustum, (see Fig. 2,) provided on the interior with the central hub, a, and a number of arms, a, (see Fig. 3,) mounted on the shaft a, which is in turn at the larger end of the drum provided with a journal-bearing in the lower end of the double bearing-bracket a,s ecured to the frame-work. The opposite end of the shaft'a is supported in double bearings in the projecting frame a, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 8.

The excavating-drum and shaft upon which the same is mounted are set on an incline, the degree of inclination being governed by the amount of slope to be given to the sides of the ditch, the larger and of the drum resting in and cutting out the center and deepest part of the ditch and gradually sloping the sides of the same toward the top in accordance with the contour and inclination of the drum.

The excavating-buckets G are rigidly mounted on the periphery of said drum and arranged spirally relative to the circumference of the same, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These buckets are arranged in a number of rows disposed at intervals and given a slight degree of spirality or pitch relative to the "right line of the drum. The cutting-edges of the buckets O are curved somewhat (see Fig. 7) to facilitate the scooping out of the earth and at the same time to better retain the load. The angle at which the buckets are set together with the incline of the drum causes the same to enter the ground endwise with a shearing cut,'thus gradually removing the earth and requiring the least possible power to operate the machine. The excavating-drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, the earth falling or gravitating back onto the endless conveyor B as the series of buckets reach a certain point above the same.

The excavating-buckets are set at some distance apart (see Fig. 6) on the periphery of the drum, and are rounded on the cutting ends, so as to more easily penetrate the earth and do better work than if the buckets were continu-' ous. The lower half or part of the space between the series of buckets is closed by the connecting-plates a, which prevent the earth from passing through, and also serve to stifi'- en and assist in securing the buckets in place. The buckets are firmly and removably secured. to the drum by being bolted to the brackets a, which are in turn bolted to the drum, as shown in Fig. .7. The buckets will be composed ordinarily of steel, and when worn out may be readily removed and replaced by others. The earth is carried along and discharged from the] end of the conveyer at one side of the ditch. The inner edge of the grading-leg B is set very 9 5 close to the outer end of the conveyer, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) leaving just sufficient space for the passage of the excavated material. The grading-leg carries an endless belt on which are mounted a number of traveling scrapers, a, too

which move in the direction indicated by the arrow. These scrapers serve to remove the earth farther away from the ditch, so as to prevent the same from being washed back, and at the same time grade the surface as the work progresses. The apron a' prevents the earth from being thrown over the side of the conveyer.

The outer end of the grading-leg B may be raised or lowered to bring the same to any desired angle by means of the turn-buckle b in the supporting brace-rod b.

The scrapers a are kept in motion by means of the link-belts bZrunning over the sprocketwheels I), located at each end of the leg,as shown in Fig. 1. The journal-shafts b If, located in the adjacent ends of the conveyer and gradingleg, have the engaging gear wheels b b mounted thereon, by which means a simultaneous movement is communicated to both. Power and motion are transmitted from the engine B to these parts through the medium of the engine-shaft B, Fig. 3, sprocket wheel 0', link-belt G sprocket-wheel 0, main shaft 0*, Fig. 1, sprocket-wheel G, mounted in the middle of the main shaft, link-belt 0, running over sprocket-wheel C and sprocket-wheel 0 located directly underneath and mounted on counter-shaft O, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on the outer end of the counter-shaft C is the bevel-gear d,which engages with the companion gear (1, mounted on one end of the shaft D,'arranged at right angles to the shaft 0. The opposite end of the shaft D engages with the conveyer'shaft b, as shown in Fig. 1.

Motio'nis transmitted from the main or driving shaft 0 to the excavating-drum by means of the sprocket-wheel D, mounted on said shaft, link-belt D, sprocket-wheel DZ'mounted on drum-shaft a, and the pinion d, mounted on said latter shaft, which is adapted to engage with the internal gear wheel or ring,D, rigidly secured to the inside of the drum.

The scraper E is secured to the frame-work and located close to and just back of the excavating-drum. The angular edge of this scraper comes in contact with and levels the sloping surface and at the same time shapes the sides of the ditch.

The derrick mechanism F F serves the purpose of raising up the excavating-drum out of contact with the ground when transporting the machine from place to place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with an excavating drum or roller in the form of a conic frustum and set on an incline, of a wise relative to each other and at right angles,

or nearly so,to the axis of the excavating-drum, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the excavating-drum, of the series of buckets C and the connecting-plates a substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the excavatingdrum, of a series of excavating-buckets arranged end to end and encircling said drum in rows, and the bracket or brackets a, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the excavating-drum having excavatingbuckets mounted on the periphery of the same, of the endless conveyer B and the gradingleg Bflthe traveling scrapers a,and the means described for transmitting motion to said conveyer and the grading mechanism, all substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a conical excavatingdrnm, of a series of excavatingbuckets arranged spirally upon the circumference of said drum,and with their cutting-edges at right angles to the same, and the scraper E, located back of said drum, substantially as set forth. V

. JOHN C. MOLAGHLAN. Witnesses:

L. B. COUPLAND, J. B. DONALSON. 

